Eleven Codwell Elementary School violinists decked out in Michael Jackson’s signature black fedoras assembled Wednesday on the steps of their new stage as they performed the classic hit “Billie Jean.”

The musical selection performed by the Codwell Violin Ensemble served to formally kick off the school’s Grand Opening and 40th Anniversary Celebration.

The day held special significance for community members, students, and faculty — not just because it marked the anniversary of the school’s inception, but also because it marked the completion of a major renovation and repurposing of the Tavenor Lane campus.

“I’m so thankful that HISD found a way to reopen this school,” HISD Board of Education Trustee Jolanda Jones said. “These babies are our future.”

The new facility, which re-opened to students for the 2017-2018 school year, is now fully enclosed with all classrooms opening to internal hallways. The school also has upgraded classroom and library spaces, a new kitchen, a secure main entry, and a designated bus circle along Tavenor Lane.

“I absolutely, positively love my children,” Love said, gesturing to the dozens of Codwell students seated before her. “When my children come to school, I want them to remember what they have.”

Also included in the renovation was a new TV production Green Room where students can produce their daily current events television program and a new stage for the Fine Arts & Physical Development magnet program.

“It took us awhile to get to this point,” Lathan said. “But as you take a look around, I think we can all agree it was well worth the wait.”

The Tavenor Lane campus was closed in 2014 when renovation work uncovered significant moisture problems that required students to relocate. Although the initial goal was quick remediation of the issue, further assessments showed the best and most cost-effective solution would be a complete interior renovation.

Also during the ceremony, fifth-grader Londyn Sampson joined with the violin ensemble to perform “Rise Up” and a representative from U.S. Congressman Al Green’s office presented the school with an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol Building.

After the ceremony, students led guests on tours of the new building, making stops in various classrooms, including the dance studio and music room.

“This is amazing,” said John E. Codwell III, grandson of the school’s namesake, as he toured prekindergarten classrooms. “This building is nothing but good for this community.”

Follow @Build_HISD on Twitter for the latest updates on the 2012 Bond Program and school construction across the district.

]]>http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/21/codwell-es-celebrates-40th-anniversary-at-grand-opening-ceremony/feed/0Must-see TV: HISD principal featured in ad to air during Olympicshttp://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/21/must-see-tv-hisd-principal-featured-in-ad-to-air-during-olympics/
http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/21/must-see-tv-hisd-principal-featured-in-ad-to-air-during-olympics/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 21:48:55 +0000http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=31732Former Olympian and Woodson K-8 Principal Stephen Gittens is featured in a new ad that will air on KPRC (Channel 2) Thursday through Feb. 25.

The spot pays homage to Gittens’ role as a Track and Field Olympian and honors the dedication and drive of all members of Team HISD to serve every student in HISD.

The ad also features HISD’s new logo and tagline: Building Houston’s Future, Right Now. The tagline emphasizes HISD’s role in preparing a future Houston workforce that is college and career ready through initiatives including literacy, college access, wraparound services, innovation, and fine arts.

Be sure to tune in to KPRC to see the ad, or get a sneak preview below.

]]>http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/21/must-see-tv-hisd-principal-featured-in-ad-to-air-during-olympics/feed/0Carranza, local law enforcement urge HISD community to help in preventing school incidents, threats http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/21/carranza-local-law-enforcement-urge-hisd-community-to-help-in-preventing-school-incidents-threats/
http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/21/carranza-local-law-enforcement-urge-hisd-community-to-help-in-preventing-school-incidents-threats/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 20:31:07 +0000http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=31726

In the wake of the tragedy at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza on Wednesday asked parents, students, and school staff to be the first line of defense when it comes to keeping HISD students safe.

He urged students that if they “see something, say something” and report any concerns to an adult.

He also joined Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez in calling on parents to talk to their students about the consequences of making jokes or threats regarding school safety on social media, in person, or through other channels. Threats – even if considered a joke by the person who made them – are considered crimes.

“One of the things you don’t joke about, no matter what, is a threat,” said Acevedo. “It is considered a terrorist threat, and you will be investigated and charged with a crime.” He added that his office can identify those who make threats anonymously on social media.

Gonzalez urged the public to come forward and report anyone they suspect may be planning an act of violence against a school.

“We will take your report seriously, and we will investigate promptly,” he said.

He also urged parents to talk to their students about social media and how to report incidents of bullying or threats.

“Now more than ever, we need brave students to come forward with information that will help law enforcement prevent attacks and also stop those who make threats,” Gonzalez said.

Carranza said HISD is reviewing its emergency response plan and working closely with the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. He said schools will be practicing various safety drills over the coming weeks.

He also acknowledged that students across the nation are planning various walkouts and protests over the next few weeks to draw attention to the issue of guns in schools after the Parkland shootings, saying that HISD is preparing for such scenarios with safety in mind. He said teachers are already leading class discussions on the topic.

“We feel strongly that the safest place for students is in school. Our teachers are prepared to have those kinds of discussions – in fact they’re already having those discussions with students – so they can express their opinions,” Carranza said. “I believe in the First Amendment, and if students peacefully want to make their feelings known, that’s what we’re educating students to be able to do – express themselves in a peaceful way.”

He added that he does not encourage walkouts and emphasized that the safest place for students is the classroom.

]]>http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/21/carranza-local-law-enforcement-urge-hisd-community-to-help-in-preventing-school-incidents-threats/feed/0Letter to community from HISD Superintendent Richard Carranzahttp://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/21/letter-to-community-from-hisd-superintendent-richard-carranza/
http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/21/letter-to-community-from-hisd-superintendent-richard-carranza/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 15:53:18 +0000http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=31717Editor’s note: HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza sent the following letter to HISD parents and staff in the wake of the Parkland, Fla., shootings last week. For more on the district’s response, click here.

Dear HISD Community:

Our district joins the nation in mourning after the tragic loss of life at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday. When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, Broward County Schools were among the first to step up to help our students, and today we stand in solidarity with them in the aftermath of this senseless attack.

We want you to know that the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We continue to take proactive steps on every campus to ensure the effectiveness of our security measures and identify and address potential threats. The HISD Police Department and Risk Management Team are currently reviewing all emergency policies and procedures, and we will immediately begin increasing the number of drills that are conducted on every campus.

We are also establishing a new team trained specifically to respond to active threats and emergencies, and its members will be stationed throughout the district. In addition, the HISD Police Department conducts annual trainings for its officers on how to respond rapidly to an active shooter event, and in recent months the department provided its officers with additional safety equipment as a tactical response to potential threats on campus.

We also know that our students may experience emotional distress after learning of the tragedy in Florida or seeing images on television and social media, so we are making crisis counselors available to students on our campuses.

One of our first lines of defense is our community. We urge you to encourage your student to speak out if they see or hear of anything that could pose a threat to safety. Remind them that if they “See something, Say something,” and ask them to report their concerns to an adult.

I appreciate your support as we continue working to provide a safe and secure environment for teaching and learning on all of our campuses.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Carranza
HISD Superintendent

]]>http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/21/letter-to-community-from-hisd-superintendent-richard-carranza/feed/0HISD Foundation awards nearly $150,000 to 18 schools across the districthttp://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/20/hisd-foundation-awards-nearly-150000-to-18-schools-across-the-district/
http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/20/hisd-foundation-awards-nearly-150000-to-18-schools-across-the-district/#respondTue, 20 Feb 2018 16:17:52 +0000http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=31713HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza’s call to rebuild and reimagine the future of HISD’s classrooms arrived just in time at this year’s State of the Schools, where Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones and Carranza announced the recipients of the HISD Foundation’s Innovation Grant.

Using funds raised from last year’s State of the School’s ceremony, the Foundation awarded 18 campuses nearly $150,000 as part of the district’s new Innovation Grant program that was created to provide funds for teachers and schools to purchase equipment, supplies, and other items to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom.

Only three schools still needed to be notified at this year’s State of the Schools. Skillern-Jones made a surprise announcement to both Berry and McReynolds elementaries: Berry received a $3,100 grant, and McReynolds received a $7,000 grant. Superintendent Carranza announced Sharpstown High School as the recipient of $20,000 — the highest award for a campus.

Berry will use the grant for supplies and equipment to create a hands-on, interactive “Makerspace” for kindergarten students to explore and invent within science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). McReynolds received their award for a STEM- and literacy- focused program called “Robots and Literature: Rolling in the Genres.”

Sharpstown High School, which won the largest amount of money for its digital storytelling project will use the grant to purchase supplies, equipment, and all the materials that will help students improve their literacy and communications skills.

Funds from the Innovation Grant must be spent in the 2017-2018 school year and grant award recipients will be required to submit an Impact Report by June 1, 2018. To learn more about HISD Foundation opportunities, visit Houstonisdfoundation.org

HISD Construction Services on Monday led Board of Education Trustee Diana Dávila and other district administrators on a tour of the new High School for Law & Justice, which is set for completion next month.

An outdoor patio overlooking the Houston skyline, a realistic courtroom classroom, and a large cafetorium with floor-to-ceiling windows were just a few of the areas attendees got a sneak peek of during the tour.

HISD Board of Education Trustee Diana Dávila said she is pleased with the building’s overall architecture and location.

“I like the fact that it has a lot of open windows for natural light,” Dávila said. “Now that we have centralized the campus, it is more accessible to our neighborhood students.”

HSLJ, funded through a combination of bond funds and real estate proceeds, is one of 40 schools being rebuilt as part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond Program. The $39.9 million project is nearly complete, with building inspections in process and paint and flooring underway.

In addition to traditional high school spaces for JROTC, athletics, and fine arts, the new campus will feature crime-scene investigations labs, an emergency communications center, and a law library.

The 105,000-square-foot building also features a large central learning stairway and a sky bridge that connects the second and third floors across a large open commons area.

The new campus is centrally located on Scott Street just outside of downtown Houston, and its proximity to the Houston Police Department South Central Station will serve as a resource to students in the magnet school’s criminal justice program.

Construction is slated for completion during first quarter of 2018 with the building expected to open in time for summer school 2018.

Half of all projects in the 2012 Bond Program are already complete and open to students. Once all projects are finished, HISD will boast one of the most modern portfolios of urban high schools in the nation.

Follow @Build_HISD on Twitter for the latest updates on the 2012 Bond Program and school construction across the district.

]]>http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/19/hisd-construction-services-leads-administration-members-on-tour-of-new-hslj/feed/0Local vendors get tips for accessing capital during February’s Workshop Wednesdayhttp://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/19/local-vendors-get-tips-for-accessing-capital-during-februarys-workshop-wednesday/
http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/19/local-vendors-get-tips-for-accessing-capital-during-februarys-workshop-wednesday/#respondMon, 19 Feb 2018 17:38:10 +0000http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=31683In Texas, small businesses serve as economic engines, making up more than 90 percent of all business activity statewide.

And yet, these small business still struggle with accessing the capital needed to help them grow.

“Many people are not aware that there are a lot of resources in the Houston area for business owners,” PeopleFund Houston Senior Loan Officer Nini Gutierrez said, leading a recent presentation for local minority- and women-owned businesses. “Going out into the community and educating people on these resources and how they can get help is very important so that businesses can continue to grow and be successful.”

Gutierrez served as the guest speaker for February’s Workshop Wednesday, a monthly outreach event for local business owners hosted by the Houston Independent School District’s Supplier Diversity department.

Titled Access to Capital, Gutierrez’s session focused on helping minority- and women-owned business enterprises – more commonly known as M/WBEs – find the resources they need to help their businesses thrive.

The workshop highlighted positive and negative funding options for local small businesses and offered tips for attract new funding opportunities, including how to engage with financial institutions, ask the right questions, and improve credit and business plans.

Business Solutions General Manager Yesenia Taylor said the district offers these programs to help local business grow and learn more about the process for working for HISD.

“Any way we can help our community understand how to grow and build their business, is exactly what we want to do,” Taylor said.

Wednesday Workshop is held on the first Wednesday of every the month.

]]>http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/19/local-vendors-get-tips-for-accessing-capital-during-februarys-workshop-wednesday/feed/0Personal stories exemplify how HISD is rebuilding, reimagining educationhttp://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/19/personal-stories-exemplify-how-hisd-is-rebuilding-reimagining-education/
http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/19/personal-stories-exemplify-how-hisd-is-rebuilding-reimagining-education/#respondMon, 19 Feb 2018 17:01:30 +0000http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=31667‘We could be anywhere, and we would still be Robinson’

If anyone could find a silver lining amid the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey, it’s Robinson Elementary School Principal Paige Fernandez-Hohos. After being flooded with more than a foot of water, Robinson was relocated and students split between two adjacent campuses. Though not ideal, the situation made Fernandez-Hohos determined to give students a sense of normalcy. Vacant rooms and hallways sprung to life with decorations. Auditorium and gym spaces were transformed into cozy classrooms to accommodate more students. Fernandez-Hohos trekked back and forth between the two campuses. If she started the day welcoming students at one school, she ended it saying goodbye to students at the other. It was important, she said, that every class see her every day. Robinson students returned to their home campus in January, but Fernandez-Hohos said the storm taught her a valuable lesson about the spirit of her school: “When everything else is stripped away, all you’re left with is the bond between teachers and students. We could be anywhere, and we would still be Robinson.”

Feeding families in the wake of a devastating hurricane

Betti Wiggins — everyone calls her Ms. Betti — exudes the familiar warmth of a beloved friend or favorite aunt. Behind that gentle demeanor, however, is a force of nature — the kind that fights a catastrophe like Hurricane Harvey by doing what she knows best: feeding families. Wiggins, HISD’s officer of Nutrition Services, led a charge to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner to Houstonians at nine sites across the city after the storm. When schools reopened, she made sure every student could eat for free all year long, easing the burden on families rebuilding their lives. Schools in some of the hardest-hit neighborhoods added a dinner program so students could eat three hot meals every day. Wiggins’ work is far from done. She and her team are building relationships with local farms, chefs, and community organizations, extending their mission beyond the lunch tray. Wiggins has been celebrated as a “rebel lunch lady,” James Beard award-winner, and pioneer of healthy school meals. Now she can add Harvey Hero to the list.

***

A resource for healing after trauma of Harvey

When the bell rings at Welch Middle School, nurse Stephanie Carter walks the halls to check on students as they shuffle between classes. “How are you doing? How is your day going?” Sometimes a distressed face stands out in the crowd. Other times Carter seeks out those she knows need extra attention, such as two siblings from west Houston who were displaced after Hurricane Harvey. “Children experience trauma in a different way than adults do,” says Carter. “You may not see signs of distress for weeks or even months later.” After Harvey, HISD staff received extensive training on how to spot signs of trauma and be a resource for families recovering from the storm. With help from HISD’s Health and Medical Services, Carter procured medical equipment for a student whose home flooded, advised parents on immunizations for exposure to tainted water, and connected families with community partners to help rebuild what Harvey destroyed. Today, when Carter sees the siblings affected by Harvey’s floodwaters, they greet her with a hug. It’s a small but fulfilling reward for a job well done.

***

Rebuilding with the help of community

It’s a teacher’s worst nightmare to greet students with bare walls and minimal supplies on the first day of school. But that was first-year teacher Shameka Provost’s reality after Hurricane Harvey’s floodwaters ravaged her home and ruined the classroom materials she had neatly packed and stored there. While Provost is still putting the pieces of her life back together, her classroom is whole again thanks to the HISD Foundation. Provost is among more than 140 teachers awarded nearly $180,000 in grants of up to $1,500 to help them rebuild their classrooms and replace what was lost in the storm. Now, almost six months after Harvey, it’s captivating to watch her coach fourth-graders on the importance of community as they pass around manila paper, glue, and markers to create thinking maps for reading. The experience has not only taught Provost resilience but given her students a lesson on the importance of coming together during the toughest of times to help those in need.

***

Artwork project results in message of hope

“Your dreams are not ruined, they just need time to dry,” says Pin Oak Middle School eighth-grader Olivia Scott. Her home escaped damage from Hurricane Harvey, but her art teacher, Cindy Sather, was not so lucky. Sather’s Meyerland home flooded, so when she heard about Project aDOORe, she knew it was the therapy she — and her students — needed. Project aDOORe paired school communities impacted by Harvey with storm-damaged doors, and more than 8,500 students visually documented how the storm affected them. Scott’s “Drying Dreams” depicts a spacesuit, Astros jersey, chef’s apron, wedding dress, graduation cap, ballet slippers, and stethoscope hanging from a clothesline. Scott helped a family save photographs and other items by laying them out to dry. “Even though the water ruins things, it doesn’t mean the end of your dreams,” Scott says. “I thought the idea of hanging your dreams out to dry was a good metaphor for keeping things in perspective.”

***

Innovative spaces for 21st-century cooking lessons

Milby High School culinary arts teacher Carlos Ramos isn’t just teaching students how to cook. He’s teaching them how to earn a living in the restaurant industry. Ramos is reimagining the way culinary arts should be taught thanks to an innovative kitchen and restaurant space in the new Milby High School, which was rebuilt under the 2012 Bond Program. Rather than simply preparing and serving food, Milby culinary students are running a restaurant — the only one in HISD — and getting real-world experience in the process. Tasks are assigned as they would be in a for-profit restaurant. Students cook the main entrée, greet and serve guests, and inventory food in the walk-in coolers. The spaces provide dual functions. Preparation tables become a place for small-group instruction, while the ’50s-style dining room — complete with projectors and smart boards — transforms into a lecture hall. Ramos will tell you there is more to running a restaurant than just cooking. He’s serving up life lessons for the generations to come.

***

Cultivating creativity, expression through fine arts

“I love to dance because it makes me feel powerful,” says Northside High School junior Jesus Juarez. He is studying all types of dance, but it’s through jazz that his personality shines, says instructor Sandra Reyna-Urbina: “Jesus dances with such passion that you can’t keep your eyes off him.” Juarez has always been strong in the arts, studying choir in elementary school and theater in middle school. But after watching the Northside Pantherettes drill team perform, he knew dance was next. HISD wants to nurture that passion for the arts in all students under the guidance of its new K-12 Fine Arts Department. Exposure to fine arts not only improves academics and promotes better attendance, but it helps students develop a nonverbal language that makes them more effective communicators. Last summer, after Reyna-Urbina took him and 11 other students to New York City to take dance classes and see a Broadway show, Juarez could see the possibilities of a career: “Eventually, I want to move to New York to dance professionally.”

***

Innovation, project-based learning drive a passion for robotics

Sixteen-year-old Michael Sanchez thrives on intensity and pressure. Get him talking about his role on the robotics team at Energy Institute High School, and one might think he’s a driver on the NASCAR circuit. Sanchez “drives” a robot designed by him and 30 classmates, and last year they took home second place in a national competition featuring nearly 7,000 teams from over 30 countries. This year, they have spent hours working collaboratively to find sponsors, raise funds, and build their newest creation with the help of two former NASA engineers. One might compare the experience to working on a project in the corporate world. In fact, that’s what all students in HISD’s innovative, project-based classrooms experience. They learn by doing, investigating, and problem-solving. Sanchez says the projects have challenged and pushed him but also drove him to discover a passion for robotics that he never knew existed. At this year’s competition, he’s eyeing the top prize.

***

Wraparound services coordinator tends to needs outside of classroom

No two days are alike for Wagma Isaqzoy. One day she might be distributing warm clothes to families during a cold snap, while another will find her partnering with a nonprofit to host a healing arts workshop for students. As a wraparound services coordinator at Wisdom High School, she helps students who speak over 40 different languages and hail from all over the world navigate life in a new country. But don’t let her calming voice fool you. The self-proclaimed “newcomer” advocate, who moved to the U.S. only three years ago, is passionate about her work. Isaqzoy says most of Wisdom’s students struggle not with schoolwork but with needs outside the classroom: housing, food, and healthcare, as well as self-esteem and trust issues. Isaqzoy is part of HISD’s Every Community Every School initiative, which has taken root at more than 40 schools to address the non-academic challenges that hinder a student’s ability to learn. No matter what her days look like, Isaqzoy knows her mission: ensure that students can leave their worries outside of the classroom.

***

Discovering a path to college through an important mentor

Westside High School senior Carlos Soriano could never have dreamed of a future that included college. As a child in El Salvador, he struggled to learn in an overcrowded school, where he was shuffled in and out of classrooms not large enough for all students. Learning would last half a day, and he would ride a makeshift bus home. Today, the soft-spoken senior has a deep appreciation for the opportunity he has in HISD. He boasts a 4.56 GPA, ranks 29 out of 621 students, and is in the top 5% of his class. It’s a remarkable accomplishment when you discover he’s juggling the additional responsibility of caring for his 3-year-old brother after school so his mother can work. Soriano credits his college success adviser, Joy Maguire, for pushing him even further. She mentored him through essay and application deadlines for engineering programs at UT, A&M, UH, University of Colorado, and Virginia Tech. Now, in his final year of school after coming to the U.S. at 9, Soriano can imagine the possibilities of a college education.

The Second Annual Together with Tech Student Conference is scheduled for April 7 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St.)

The theme is “Mind, Body, and Soul,” and the idea is to brainstorm solutions that will help the community. More information is available at the Together With Tech website.

High school teams of between two and five students are encouraged to submit their proposals by Feb. 28. This year’s summit will have two components:

Open Expo: Teams will showcase their work on the first and second floors of Hattie Mae White. This is an opportunity for students to exhibit their projects without entering the competition.

Tech Summit Competition: Each campus is allowed two entries to the competition portion of the Tech Summit. Teams will deliver a five-minute presentation during which they will demonstrate their solution to one of the guiding questions and its impact on the community.

This year’s tech summit topics are:

Sound – How can you harness the power of sound to positively affect others?

Nutrition – How can you help address the growing concern of inadequate nutrition?

Community Safety – How can you help keep your community safe?

After a team chooses the guiding question, they select a category in which to compete. The categories are as follows:

To aid students in the development of their ideas, a self-paced HUB course has been created and can be accessed by campus instructional technologists or designated sponsor.

Campuses can find more information by contacting their instructional technologist or emailing instech@houstonisd.org.

]]>http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/16/together-with-tech-student-conference-scheduled-for-april-7/feed/0District V town hall meeting planned for Feb. 22http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/16/district-v-town-hall-meeting-planned-for-feb-22/
http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/16/district-v-town-hall-meeting-planned-for-feb-22/#respondFri, 16 Feb 2018 14:58:13 +0000http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=31658HISD District V Trustee Sue Deigaard will discuss the district’s 2018-2019 budget, and its effects on District V schools, during a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22 in the Bellaire High School auditorium (5100 Maple, Bellaire77401).
]]>http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/16/district-v-town-hall-meeting-planned-for-feb-22/feed/0Superintendent urges business community, lawmakers to advocate for public education funding changeshttp://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/15/superintendent-carranza-urges-business-community-and-state-lawmakers-to-advocate-for-changes-in-public-education-funding-system/
http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/15/superintendent-carranza-urges-business-community-and-state-lawmakers-to-advocate-for-changes-in-public-education-funding-system/#respondThu, 15 Feb 2018 22:17:28 +0000http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=31650

HISD Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones says board is committed to strategic and innovative collaboration on behalf of students

Speaking before a packed crowd, HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza and HISD Board of Education President Rhonda Skillern-Jones urged business professionals and state lawmakers to work with the district in advocating for changes to the state’s funding system for public education.

“The last time the state of Texas updated its school funding system, Ronald Reagan was President of the United States. That was 1984, and a lot has changed since 1984,” Carranza said. “We need a school finance system that will reflect the needs of today’s students and does not so heavily rely on local property taxes to fund schools. We continue to do more with less because the state does not give school districts their fair share for public education. We have lawmakers in the room right now, and we urge them to support a system that provides a better education for our children in the 21st century.”

Carranza and Skillern-Jones delivered their messages to more than 1,500 guests at the district’s annual State of the Schools luncheon, held at the Hilton Americas-Houston and hosted by the HISD Foundation. Keeping with the event theme “Rebuild and Reimagine,” both touted the district’s commitment to innovation, ensuring equity within all schools, and creating a world-class school district despite post-Hurricane Harvey challenges.

“We have a tough year ahead,” Skillern-Jones said. “Harvey wreaked havoc on our employees and students as it did our entire city. The water may be gone, but its devastation remains. We need your help to rebuild and reimagine.”

Hosted by the HISD Foundation and sponsored by Chevron, the program highlighted students, teachers, and schools from across the district. Among those participating were the Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men Barbershop Quartet, All-District Honors Jazz Band, the Lamar High School cheerleaders, and orators who performed monologues for the Project aDOORe exhibit.

“The State of the Schools Luncheon is such an exciting opportunity for the community to hear directly from the Superintendent about the priorities of the Houston Independent School District as well as a great way for us to showcase some of the innovative and exciting things happening with students on campuses all over the district,” HISD Foundation Executive Director Ann Scott said. “We’re also so grateful to our guests for helping the HISD Foundation raise funds to support our Innovation Fund, which allows us to invest in schools and promote innovative opportunities for our students to learn and grow.”

In his second address since assuming leadership of the district last school year, Carranza addressed some of HISD’s greatest challenges, including a projected $208 million deficit and the state’s school finance system, which has led HISD to recapture. Carranza called recapture today’s most pressing issue for HISD. Although HISD serves 76 percent of economically disadvantaged students, HISD is considered “property-wealthy” and is required to send millions of its local property taxes to the state to distribute to poorer school districts.

“This year, we’re going to have to write an estimated $260 million check to the state of Texas because of recapture,” Carranza said. “Ironically, if we did not have a recapture payment and the state of Texas would step up to its constitutionally required duty to properly fund public education, we could eliminate the deficit at HISD and have additional funds to provide resources for our students in the communities that need it most.”

Despite budget challenges, Carranza says HISD remains more committed than ever to its obligation to educate the whole child and provide the essential services students need to be successful. As part of that commitment, the district is reimagining how it supports students outside the classroom, expanding services such as housing, food, or healthcare through wraparound services.

Superintendent Carranza also addressed HISD’s status as one the largest employers in the region, with nearly 31,000 employees whose direct constituents are the 214,000 students enrolled in HISD and how important partnership is to the district’s future.

“Those 214,000 students will soon be your workforce. So let’s talk about how we can work together to build some academies so we’re infusing the kind of skills and innovation that you want when we graduate those students. Your partnership now is crucial because together, we are educating the future economic engine of our community. In the face of a more than $200 million deficit and without the investment of people like you, innovative programs will not be available for our students, and that is not fair for our future workforce.”

The event featured projects funded by the HISD Foundation’s Innovation Fund through funds raised at the 2017 State of the Schools luncheon. Those projects include Hartsfield Elementary School, which used a 3D printer to create a wheelchair cart for a dog that could not use her hind legs. Also, M.C. Williams Middle School students used a 3D printer to make a prosthetic arm for a sixth-grade student at the Mandarin Immersion Magnet School.

During the event, three schools were announced as winners of Innovation Grants. Berry Elementary School will receive a $3,100 grant from the HISD Foundation’s Innovation Fund, McReynolds Middle School will receive a $7,000 grant, and Sharpstown High School will receive a $20,000 grant. Berry will use its grant for supplies and equipment to create a “Makers Space” for its kindergarten students. McReynolds will use the grant for a STEM and literacy program called “Robots and Literature: Rolling in the Genres.” Sharpstown will use the grant to purchase supplies, equipment, and materials for the Sharpstown Storytelling project, a digital storytelling project that will not only help students improve their literacy and communication skills, but allow them to share their stories.

“This was all made possible because of generous donations to the HISD Foundation’s Innovation Fund,” Carranza said.

]]>http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/15/superintendent-carranza-urges-business-community-and-state-lawmakers-to-advocate-for-changes-in-public-education-funding-system/feed/0Parker ES to open new building after Spring Breakhttp://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/14/parker-es-to-open-new-building-after-spring-break/
http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2018/02/14/parker-es-to-open-new-building-after-spring-break/#respondWed, 14 Feb 2018 20:56:27 +0000http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=31643

With construction nearing completion, Parker Elementary School staff are making plans to move into their new building over Spring Break and open their doors to students on March 19.

The project is more than 80 percent complete. Interior painting and flooring are underway, and crews will finish pouring exterior driveways and walkways later this week.

“We’re really excited to get moved into our new school,” Parker Principal Lori Frodine said, praising the unique architecture of the new building. “It’s such a cool building with a lot of great space.”

Parker is being rebuilt as part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond Program. The $33 million project calls for a new fine arts magnet school that will accommodate about 850 students.

Building features include a 500-seat auditorium with collapsible bleacher-style seating, band, orchestra, vocal, and multipurpose rooms, and flexible learning spaces. A new cafeteria also includes a separate seating area for parents visiting their children for lunch.

The two-story, 113,000-square-foot building will house pre-kindergarten, and first and second grades on the ground level and third through fifth grades on the second floor.

The school originally was scheduled to open in January 2018. Though significant progress was made, the timeline ultimately had to be delayed due to project management issues.

HISD Construction Services assumed management of the project in December, pledging to have the facility completed by the first quarter of 2018. Crews have since been working diligently to maintain the project’s new schedule and allow the school to open its doors to students when they return from Spring Break.

Parker is among 40 schools being renovated or rebuilt as part of the 2012 Bond Program. Half of all projects are now finished and open to students. Once all work is finished, HISD will boast of one of the most modern portfolios of urban high schools in the country. Follow @Build_HISD on Twitter for the latest updates on the 2012 Bond Program and school construction across the district.